One of the leading industrialist, EK Parthasarathy, the man who set up his own auto component business, Madras Engineering Industries in Chennai and globally became a major player in the slack adjuster arena, died in Chennai yesterday. The Chairman of MEI was 77. The techocrat has a graduation in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters degree from the University of Cramfield.Formidable empire
After serving in the UK for almost seven years, Parthasarathy established the auto component manufacturing company, Madras Engineering Industries in Chennai way back 1966. In 1982, MEI started manufacturing manual slack adjusters and parts for air brake systems for light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles. In 2000, the firm commenced exporting automatic slack adjusters to the United Kingdom, Europe, the US, Canada, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.
In 2004, MEI became a Tier- I supplier of manual slack adjusters to major OEMs in the domestic market and in 2007, it became the first Indian corporate to indigenously develope and patent self setting automatic slack adjusters. The auto component major started supplies to all the OEMs in India with a market share of over 70 percent.Plants
MEI Operates from three locations in Chennai. The first plant is based out of Ambattur Industrial Estate, the second facility at Maraimalai Nagar and the third unit in the Mahindra World City SEZ. The company’s R&D Centre is located at IIT-M Res Park. All the plants are accredited with TS 16949 – 2000 and TS 14001 – 2000 by TUV Germany.R&D
Under his stewardship, MEI started laying more emphasis on the R&D pursuits. Parthasarathy managed to produce automatic slack adjusters in a big way. In fact, thanks to his perseverance, MEI has three global patents on its name in the slack adjuster arena. Through its persistent R&D efforts, MEI also has obtained seven global patents till this day.CSR endeavours
Parthasarathy has taken several corporate social responsibility initiatives supporting institutions like schools and hospitals, including Sankara Nethralaya. His other CSR endeavours include a wholesome school education, woman’s employment, healthcare, renovation of schools and hospitals, water supply and more at his native village of Thandalam, near Arakonam.
The former President of the Madras Club is survived by his spouse, Radha Parthasarathy, son Sanjay Parthasarathy and two daughters, Priya Sriram and Ramya Narayanan.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of MEI as of now stands at EK Parthasarathy, Chairman and Managing Director, Radha Parthasarathy, Director, Sriram Sivaram, Director, Priya Sriram, Director and Sanjay Parthasarathy, Director. The sucessor of late EK Parthasarathy will be chosen soon.

* Production of Self Setting Automatic Slack Adjusters for domestic applications.
* Inauguration of third plant at Mahindra World City SEZ for the manufacture of automatic slack adjusters for global Market.

2009: Established state-of-the-art R&D Facility at IITM res Park, Chennai and is recognised by the DSIR, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.